Dragées

Dragées are small candies consisting of a central core, commonly an almond, coated with a hard sugar shell. The term is used in French and English to describe sugar-coated nuts or seeds, especially the white almond variety known as an almond dragée. In confectionery, dragées may also refer to sugar-coated nuts or seeds, sometimes with decorative or metallic coatings, and occasionally to chocolates or fruit centers covered by a hard candy shell.

Historically, dragées originated in Europe in the Middle Ages, when sugared almonds were given as gifts at weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations. They are associated with the symbolism of five almonds representing health, wealth, happiness, longevity, and fertility, and are often used as wedding favors.

Manufacture involves repeatedly applying a sugar syrup to the core to build a hard shell, then drying. Modern production uses mechanical coating processes. Flavors and coatings vary, including plain white sugar, colored sugar, and chocolate-coated variants, with fruit or vanilla flavorings common. The term “silver dragées” or “dragées argentées” refers to small edible spheres coated with a metallic silver shell; true metallic coatings are designed to be safe for consumption and are popular for cake decorations, confectionery displays, and party favors.

Uses: widely in weddings and other celebrations as favors, in cake and pastry decoration, and as general table confections. In many countries, gifting a box of almonds or dragées remains a traditional element of celebratory occasions.